Loudspeaker array suspension

Abstract

A loudspeaker array suitable for use in both a compression suspension mode and a flying suspension mode, wherein each two adjacent loudspeakers housings are coupled to each other by coupling means comprising a stationary connection frame, a pivotable connection bar and a connection member; wherein one of the connection frame and bar is provided with a fly mode pulling connection member stop and a compression mode pushing connection member stop which each are arranged to receive and block movement of the connection member in two opposite directions, one being a fly mode direction and one being a compression mode direction, such that blocking the movement of said connection member in the fly mode direction causes the back sides of the loudspeaker housings to exert a pulling force on each other while maintaining a predetermined angle and blocking the movement of said connection member in the compression mode direction causes the back side of said loudspeaker housings to exert a pushing force on each other while maintaining a predetermined angle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A loudspeaker array suitable for use in both a compression suspension mode and a flying suspension mode, comprising at least two loudspeaker housings, wherein each two adjacent loudspeakers housings are coupled to each other by coupling means;
 wherein said coupling means comprises a hinge connecting the front sides of said adjacent loudspeaker housings; 
 wherein said coupling means are designed to couple said adjacent loudspeakers in such a manner that the loudspeaker housings will extend at a predetermined angle relative to each other in a hoisted position, and provided with means for setting the predetermined angle when the loudspeaker housings are in a non-hoisted position; 
 wherein the coupling means are further designed for coupling the loudspeaker housings in such a manner that said loudspeaker housings, upon being moved from the non-hoisted position to the hoisted position, are moved to a position wherein the loudspeaker housings are forced to extend at said predetermined angle; 
 wherein said coupling means comprise a pivotable connection bar which at one end is pivotably connected to a back side of one of said adjacent loudspeakers, and a stationary connection frame mounted on a back side of the other one of said adjacent loudspeakers and to which the other end of said connection bar can be coupled by means of a connection member; 
 wherein one of said connection frame and bar is provided with a plurality of holders which are arranged to hold said connection member, and arranged such that a selection of each one of said holders by rotating said connection bar for holding said connection member and coupling said connection bar to said connection frame determines a different said predetermined angle; and 
 wherein the other one of said connection frame and bar is provided with a fly mode pulling connection member stop and a compression mode pushing connection member stop which each are arranged to receive and block movement of said connection member in two opposite directions, one being a fly mode direction and one being a compression mode direction, such that blocking the movement of said connection member in the fly mode direction causes the back sides of said loudspeaker housings to exert a pulling force on each other while maintaining said predetermined angle and blocking the movement of said connection member in the compression mode direction causes the back side of said loudspeaker housings to exert a pushing force on each other while maintaining said predetermined angle. 
 
     
     
       2. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein the designated connection member locations of said fly mode connection member stop and said compression mode connection member stop are located at the same distance from the pivot point of said pivotable connection bar. 
     
     
       3. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said connection member stops are formed by the ends of slots wherein said connection member can move. 
     
     
       4. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 3 , wherein said slots extend in the fly mode and compression mode directions respectively, each of said directions extending through the pivot point of said pivotable connection bar. 
     
     
       5. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of holders for holding said connection member extends in an array in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the fly mode and compression mode directions. 
     
     
       6. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said loudspeaker array is provided with a tension cable, one end of which is attached to the back side of the lower loudspeaker in said loudspeaker array, and one end of which is attached near the upper side of said loudspeaker array, and means for tensioning said cable in order to move said connection members in the compression mode direction towards the compression mode connection member stops. 
     
     
       7. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said loudspeaker array is designed such that when the upper loudspeaker of said loudspeaker array is hoisted gravity forces said loudspeakers to move such that said connection members move in the fly mode direction towards the fly mode connection member stops. 
     
     
       8. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of holders is provided in the stationary connection frame and the connection member is provided in the pivotable connection bar. 
     
     
       9. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said connection member is a pin. 
     
     
       10. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder is a pin hole in which a pin can be inserted. 
     
     
       11. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said connection frame or bar which is provided with said holders for said connection member is provided with a support surface extending in a segment of a circle, the centre of said circle being the pivot point of said pivotable connection bar when said loudspeaker array is in the non-hoisted, stretched position;
 wherein the other one of said connection frame and bar is provided with a removable support member which is arranged to push against and be movable along said support surface when said connection bar is rotated in order to hold said loudspeaker array standing upright in the non-hoisted, stretched position, which removable support member can be removed when the loudspeaker array is hoisted in order to allow a tension cable, one end of which is attached to the back side of the lower loudspeaker in said loudspeaker array, and one end of which is attached near the upper side of said loudspeaker array, and means for tensioning said cable, to move said connection members in the compression mode direction towards the compression mode connection member stops. 
 
     
     
       12. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said connection frame or bar which is provided with said holders for said connection member is provided with a second support surface extending in a segment of a circle, the centre of said circle being the pivot point of said pivotable connection bar when said loudspeaker array is in the non-hoisted, stretched position;
 wherein the other one of said connection frame and bar is provided with a second support member which is arranged to push against and be movable along said support surface in order to hold said loudspeaker array in a stretched position when the loudspeaker array is hoisted. 
 
     
     
       13. A loudspeaker array suitable for use in a compression suspension mode, comprising at least two loudspeaker housings, wherein each two adjacent loudspeakers housings are coupled to each other by coupling means;
 wherein said coupling means comprises a hinge connecting the front sides of said adjacent loudspeaker housings; 
 wherein said coupling means are designed to couple said adjacent loudspeakers in such a manner that the loudspeaker housings will extend at a predetermined angle relative to each other in a hoisted position, and provided with means for setting the predetermined angle when the loudspeaker housings are in a non-hoisted position; 
 wherein the coupling means are further designed for coupling the loudspeaker housings in such a manner that said loudspeaker housings, upon being moved from the non-hoisted position to the hoisted position, are moved to a position wherein the loudspeaker housings are forced to extend at said predetermined angle; 
 wherein said coupling means comprise a pivotable connection bar which at one end is pivotably connected to a back side of one of said adjacent loudspeakers, and a stationary connection frame mounted on a back side of the other one of said adjacent loudspeakers and to which the other end of said connection bar can be coupled by means of a connection member; 
 wherein one of said connection frame and bar is provided with a plurality of holders which are arranged to hold said connection member, and arranged such that a selection of each one of said holders by rotating said connection bar for holding said connection member and coupling said connection bar to said connection frame determines a different said predetermined angle; and 
 wherein the other one of said connection frame and bar is provided with a compression mode pushing connection member stop which is arranged to receive and block movement of said connection member in a compression mode direction, such that blocking the movement of said connection member in the compression mode direction causes the back side of said loudspeaker housings to exert a pushing force on each other while maintaining said predetermined angle. 
 
     
     
       14. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 13 , wherein said connection frame or bar which is provided with said holders for said connection member is provided with a support surface extending in a segment of a circle, the centre of said circle being the pivot point of said pivotable connection bar when said loudspeaker array is in the non-hoisted, stretched position;
 wherein the other one of said connection frame and bar is provided with a removable support member which is arranged to push against and be movable along said support surface when said connection bar is rotated in order to hold said loudspeaker array standing upright in the non-hoisted, stretched position, which removable support member can be removed when the loudspeaker array is hoisted in order to allow a tension cable, one end of which is attached to the back side of the lower loudspeaker in said loudspeaker array, and one end of which is attached near the upper side of said loudspeaker array, and means for tensioning said cable, to move said connection members in the compression mode direction towards the compression mode connection member stops. 
 
     
     
       15. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 13 , wherein said connection frame or bar which is provided with said holders for said connection member is provided with a second support surface extending in a segment of a circle, the centre of said circle being the pivot point of said pivotable connection bar when said loudspeaker array is in the non-hoisted, stretched position;
 wherein the other one of said connection frame and bar is provided with a second support member which is arranged to push against and be movable along said support surface in order to hold said loudspeaker array in a stretched position when the loudspeaker array is hoisted. 
 
     
     
       16. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 13 , wherein said connection member stops are formed by the ends of slots wherein said connection member can move. 
     
     
       17. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 13 , wherein said slot extends in the compression mode direction, extending through the pivot point of said pivotable connection bar. 
     
     
       18. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of holders for holding said connection member extends in an array in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the compression mode direction. 
     
     
       19. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of holders is provided in the stationary connection frame and the connection member is provided in the pivotable connection bar. 
     
     
       20. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 13 , wherein said connection member and/or support member(s) is/are a pin. 
     
     
       21. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder is a pin hole in which a pin can be inserted. 
     
     
       22. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 13 , suitable for use in both a compression suspension mode and a flying suspension mode, wherein the other one of said connection frame and bar is provided with a fly mode pulling connection member stop which is arranged to receive and block movement of said connection member in a fly mode direction being opposite to said compression mode direction, such that blocking the movement of said connection member in the fly mode direction causes the back sides of said loudspeaker housings to exert a pulling force on each other while maintaining said predetermined angle. 
     
     
       23. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 22 , wherein the designated connection member locations of said fly mode connection member stop and said compression mode connection member stop are located at the same distance from the pivot point of said pivotable connection bar. 
     
     
       24. The loudspeaker array according to  claim 23 , wherein said loudspeaker array is designed such that when the upper loudspeaker of said loudspeaker array is hoisted gravity forces said loudspeakers to move such that said connection members move in the fly mode direction towards the fly mode connection member stops.